Corn harvester



Aug. 25, 1 942 f I 2,293,757

' CORN HARVESTER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1-942- E. JOCHUMSEN 2,293,757

" CORN HARVESTER v Fiied Aug. 3, 1940 v s Sheets-Sheet 2 E. JOCHUMSEN 2,293,751

com: HARVESTER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheefls-Sheet 3 Aug. 25, 1942. Y E. JQCHUMSEN v 2,293,757

com: HARVESTER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 40 3 40. I

'Aug. 25, 1942. '5. JOCHUMSEN CORN HARVESTER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Aug. 25, 1942 T OFFICE I cormnanvnsrnn Ed Jochumsen, Waterloo, Iowa, assignor to Allis- Chalmers Manufact Company, Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,740

29 Claims.

This invention relates in general to corn harvesters, and various features of the invention are of particular utility in connection with combined picking and husking machines of the type intended for mounting or assemblyon a propelling tractor.

Corn harvesters or pickers of commercial types have heretofore been mounted on a wheeled frame to be drawn by horses or a tractor and have also been mounted or assembled on or driven by a tractor; but these prior corn harvesters, particularly such as are designed for mounting on tractors, have disadvantages and defects which militate against their wider commercial acceptance by farmers, particularly farmers working limited acreage. Among these disadvantages of prior commercial types of corn harvesters are the relatively heavy and cumbersome design and construction thereof, a feature which increases the cost of such machines and hence places the machines beyond the means of many farmers operating smaller farms, as well 'as ordinarily requiring a tractor of relatively high power to insure reasonably satisfactory operation of the harvester. Another disadvantageous feature of prior commercial machines of this type is that a considerable portion of the harvester is disposed so high that it leaves the operator's quarters cramped and obstructed, and this, along with the fact that standing corn stalks are permitted to approach relatively close to the operator's position, considerably impairs his vision of the ground ahead of the machine and the parts of the machine during operation thereof. And further, this relatively cumbersome design of corn harvester, in addition to requiring considerable time and effort to assemble the corn harvester on and dismount the same from a tractor, results in a relatively high center of gravity, with consequent increased vibration and unsteadiness during travel in the field, features which contribute to discomfort of the operator and shortened active life of the machine.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a corn harvesting machine of simple design and construction and light weight, and hence reduced cost, and embodying features which provide for the increased comfort of the operator and better vision 6f the crop and of the parts of the machine during normal operation, and which facilitate ready assembling of the machine on a conventional type of tractor and removal there-' from in a very short period of time, thus leaving the tractor readily available at any time for other farm operations.

Desirable advantages are attainable in a corn harvesting machine in accordance with the present invention, through providing as features of such a machine one Or more picker and husking roll units which, with their necessary drives, are readily and quickly mountable on and demountable from the tractor, along with a readily attachable and detachable conveyer, passing beneath the axle of the supporting traction wheels or the tractor rear axle, for conveying corn rearwardly from the husking rolls to a rearwardly located receptacle or elevating conveyer.

Additional advantages are attainable in accordance with this invention through providing a stalk-bending device located below the pickerrolls for cooperation with standing stalks between the rolls to insure bending the latter down in a forward direction as the picker advances through the field, so that the entire corn stalk passes through the rolls at a point relatively close to the ground and thus ofl'ers minimum interference with the normal functioning of the husking roll elements, this feature of the invention contributing particularly to permitting a relative low placement of the rolls and the husked corn conveyer, and thus permitting the latter to pass rearwardly beneath the axle of the traction wheels, and hence insuring a. relatively low center of gravity of the corn harvester parts when in assembled relation.

An additional feature of advantage of the present invention is concerned with the provision of a resilient bracing arch between the supports for the harvesting rolls and disposed wholly at the underside of such supports and rolls, and including provisions associated with such bracing arch for adjusting the yielding effect of the arch, this placement of the bracing arch contributing to lower the center of gravity of the harvester unit assembly; and an additional advantage is attained through utilizing the bracing arch as a support for the stalk bending device. And a further advantageous feature of the present invention is concerned with the provision of an improved form of shelled corn saving device supported in position below the husking roll elements,

and preferablyisupported through the bracing arch.

A further feature of advantage of this invention is concerned with an improved mounting of the harvesting rolls on and supported through bearings which-are resiliently adjustable'one relative to another to cause one roll of a pair of cooperativeharvesting rolls'to be biased to a predetermined position with respect to the other roll but still be free to move away from the latter roll on the occurrence of predetermined pressure between the rolls.

A further feature of the invention is concerned with the provision of an improved power drivingconnection from the engine of a tractor on which the corn harvester is detachably mounted, such driving connection providing for driving the corn harvester and a corn harvester attachment for a tractor, which are of improved design and construction and embodying features contributing to the attainment of the aforesaid structural and operating advantages, individually and collectively, of the invention.

These and other objects and advantages are attained by the present invention, various novel features of which will be apparent from the description herein and the accompanying drawings, disclosing an embodiment of features of the invention, and will be more particularly pointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of a corn picker mounted on a tractor and embodying features of the present invention, parts of the apparatus being broken away or removed for facility in dis closure of details;

Fig. 2 is 'a diagrammatic plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, parts being removed and other parts distorted as to position to facilitate disclosure of details;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of one of the pieker-husker units shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the pickerhusker unit as shown in Fig. 3, the view being from the left hand side of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a detail of the picker unit shown in Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section in the plane of the line VI'VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a broken sectional view in the plane of the line VII-VII of Figs. 3 and 4, looking forwardly at the unit as shown in Fig. 3, and with the husked corn conveyer in mounted position;

Fig. 8 is a broken sectional view in the plane of the line VIII-VIII of Figs. 3 and 4, looking forwardly at the unit as shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section in. the plane of the line IXIX of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in elevation of detail of Fig. 1

Fig. 11 is a vertical section of the plane of the line Xf-XI of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view in elevation of a detail omitte from Fig. 1; and

Fig. 13 is an overall perspective view of the corn picker assembled on the tractor, showing a divider and gathering shields mounted in position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, a conventional form of farm tractor is indicated at 2 and includes asupporting frame having laterally spaced side bars 3 carrying the engine 4 and its radiator and other accessories. The front end of the tractor frame is supported on steerable wheels 5 whose axles are suitably hung from the frame, and the rear end of the frame is supported on traction wheels 6 whose axles are carried by a rear axle housing I supported on the rear end of the frame bars 3,

this axle housing enclosing a conventional type of differential drive to the traction wheels from the rearwardly extending drive or transmission shaft which is connected to the engine shaft through a conventional variable speed transmission. A separate power takeoff 8 from the transmission shaft, as through a geared connection therewith, is provided and includes a power takeoff shaft 9 for furnishing power to drive the operating parts of the corn picker units and auxiliary conveyers, the driving connection from the transmission shaft being such as to cause the operating parts of the picker to be driven in synchronism or timed relation with the traction wheels of the tractor, to insure eflicient operation of the picker mechanism and associated parts.

As indicated, the rear end of the power takeoff shaft 9 is provided with a bevel gear l0 meshing with a bevel gear l2 on a cross shaft IS, the latter being mounted in bearings carried by hangers 14 secured to the side bars 3 of the tractor frame. The bevel gears I0, 12 are enclosed in a housing 15 supported on the bearings of the cross shaft l3, or are independently supported, and the forward portion of the housing [5 provides a rear bearing for the power takeoff shaft 9. The mom shaft I3 is provided with a sprocket H, the latter serving, through a chain, to drive a sprocket I8 on the cross shaft I9 rotatably and removably supported in bearings 20 on the upper side of the tractor frame bars 3, and a second sprocket 2| which serves to drive conveyer parts, as more particularly referred to hereinafter.

The corn harvester is shown as comprising two similar picker units 23, 23-, each including picking and husking elements or sections disposed at its own side of the tractor frame laterally within the adjacent traction wheel 6, and a conveyer 24 disposed laterally inside each corn picker unit and passing beneath the rear axle of the tractor, for conveying huskedcom rearwardly from the picker units for deposit on the lower end of an elevating conveyer 25 which serves to convey the husked corn to a trailing wagon, the elevating conveyer 25, the husked corn conveyers 24 and the picker units 23, 23* being each separately detachable from the tractor.

Each picker unit includes a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending frame bars 21, 21, which may be in the form of angle bars and connected together at their rear ends by a light crossbar 28. A section of shaft 29 is rotatably mounted in bearings 30 mounted on the frame bars 21, 21 near the rear end thereof, with the ends of such shaft extending laterally beyond the frame bars. The forward portion of the frame bars 21, 21" are held in desired spaced relation through a tie rod 3| between and having its end portions adjustably connected to hanger bars 32, preferably of spring steel, rigidly secured at their upper ends by bolting to a flange of each of the frame bars 21, 21*. The ends of the tie rod 3| are threaded and pass through openings in the hangers 32, with nuts 34, 35 on the threaded ends of the tie rod adjustable to draw the resilient hanger bars 32 toward each other to the desired extent and hold them securely spaced from one another in braced and tied relation. A second tie rod 36 pasing through apertures in the hangers 32, adjacent the lower end thereof, and similarly secured to such hangers by nuts 34, 35, serves to assist in bracing and securing the hanger bars and frame bars 21 in position with respect to each other. The resilient hanger bars 32, in conjunction with the tie rods 3|, 36, and the securing nuts 34, 35 suitably positioned on the tie rods, act as a resilient supporting and bracing arch for the forward portions of the frame bars 21, H and parts carried thereby of the picker unit.

A pair of cooperative picking and husking rolls 38, 39 are mounted on the supporting bars of the picker frame. These rolls 38, 33 are hollow and are mounted and keyed on outer and inner rotatable shafts 48, 48*, respectively. The roll 38 is in three sections, a screw conveyer picker section 4| tapering to a reduced forward end, an intermediate screw conveyer husking section 42 of substantially uniform diameter, and a rear trash clearing section 43 provided with peripheral longitudinal grooves. The inner roll 39 has a forward screw conveyer picker section 45, generally similar to the section 42 of the roll 38,but with its threaded surface of opposite pitch, an intermediate section 46, as of cast metal, of substantiallyuniform diameter and preferably covered with resilient rubber, and a rear trash clearing section 43 of the same form as the corresponding section of the roll 38. Rearwardly of the section 43 of each roll, there is mounted on the roll shaft a gear section 43, 48, these gears being in meshed driving relation.

The rear end portion of the roll shafts 40, 48 are rotatably mounted in bearings-carried by a split bearing bracket or housing mounted on the side bars 21, 21 and comprising a lower section 50 and an upper section The bearing bracket is held in position through side flanges on its sections 58, 5| which are secured by bolts passing through such flanges and the transverse flanges of the side bars 21, 21 preferably with the flanges of the section 58 below and the flanges of the section 5| above the flange of such side bars. Bearing sleeves 52 and 53, preferably provided with flanges at their axial ends, for cooperation.

with the ends of the bearing housing, to restrain axial movement of the sleeves, are mounted in position within the bearing housing 58, 5|. This bearing bracket serves as an additional tie between the rear end portion of the side bars 21, 21*! with the side walls of such slots to prevent rotation of the sleeves.

Means for permitting a desired yieldable lateral adiustment of the bearing sleeve 53 relative vto the bearing sleeve 52 is provided, such means including a compression spring 51 yieldingly pressing against a lateral abutment on the sleeve and an abutment 58, the limit of whose 'positionand the normal compression of the springare determined by an adjustable screw 58*, passing through the inner side wall of the bearing brack- I 18 attached to andprojecting rearwardly, from" 'et 5| and suitably locked in adjusted position r the upper forwardportion of the bar .H', the

, combined picking and husking mils 38, 38, are rotatably mounted in bearings carried by brackets 6|, 6| fixedly secured to the forward portion of the side bars 21, 21, respectively, and extending inwardly therefrom, the forward side of these bearing brackets tapering inwardly toward the rear end and thus assisting in guiding com stalks toward the space between the forward ends of the picker rolls.

Each corn picker unit is provided with two 7 sets of chains or conveyers having lugs or projections which engage and cooperate with the standing corn stalks as the tractor progresses through the corn field to be harvested. Lower stalk conveying chain 63, 63 and upper conveying chains 64, 64 arecarried by the frame bars 21, 21 of the picker unit in'desired operative relationship with the picking rolls thereof. The lower and upper conveying chainsare driven by sprockets 65, 61, respectively, rotatably mounted on shafts 68, I38 on the frame bars 21,-21, respectively, these shafts each being rotatably supported in a pedestal bearing 68, secured in position'on the upper side-of each of the frame bars. As indicated, the shaft 68 and its support,

' mounted on the inner frame bar 21, are located ata position somewhat forward of the position of the corresponding parts on the outer frame bar 21. -A guide bearing 18, intermediate the sprockets 6 5, 61, is provided for each of the shafts 68, 68 This guide bearing is mounted on a plate or bar 1|, 1|, extending in the same general'direction as the frame bar and supported thereon and in three sections offset from one another. The bars .II are mounted at the rear end on a forwardly extending projection on the pedestal 69. The lower chain 63, 63'. travels over a sprocket l2 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft or bolt '13 secured in the forward portion of the bearing bracket 6|, 6|, respectively. The shaft I3 preferably passes upwardly through the forward portion of the bar H, and may be secured in position relative thereto by a nut or head on the shaft I3 engaging with the bar.

The extreme forward portion of the bars 1|, 7 I tapers outwardly, the taper on the outer bar 1| being indicatedas somewhat greater than on the inner bar H Sprockets 15 are rotatably supported at the underneath side of the forward end of the bars H, 1| on a stubshaft or bolt secured to each bar; and these sprockets act as front guiding sprockets for the upper gathering chains64,|i4 4 An idler sprocket I6 is shown' for confining the rearporti'on of the path of travel of the inner course of the upper chain 64, so that it'may be in substantially vertical "alinement-with the corresponding portionof the lower chain 63.' This therein. This device for permitting, yielding' movement of the bearing sleeve 53 is of utility the rolls. The rolls are driven in opposite directions through cooperative meshing beveled gears 59 and 60 on the shaft 29 and the rear end of the shaft 48 of the roll 38,' respectively, the

meshed gears 48, 48 on the rolls serving to rotate the roll 39.

The forward ends of the-shafts 48, 48 of the sprocket .16'is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft or bolt secured to andsuspendedfroman arm attachment of this "supporting arm preferably permitting adjustment ofthe position of the idler sprocket 16; or the supporting stub shaft for the sprocket 16 may be-secured inadjustable position onan intermediate portion of the bar at the upper side thereof.

The shafts 68, 68, carrying sprockets'65, 61

tershaft 86.rotatably .sup ported in bearingscan ried by pedestals detachably mounted on, or forming an integral extension of, bearing pedestals 39 which are mounted on the rear end portions of the frame bar 21, 21

The shaft 86 is driven from the shaft 29, preferably by a chain drive from sprocket 81 on shaft 29 to sprocket 89 on shaft 86.

Pairs of sprockets 9I, 92 are rotatably mounted in spaced relation on the tie rods 3|, 36, respectively, between the hanger bars 32 which latter are mounted in and secure forward portions of the frame bars 21, 21 in the desired spaced relation. A second set of hanger bars 93 is secured to the side bars 21, 21- of the picker unit at a point rearwardly of the hangers 32. A shaft 94 is rotatable in bearings mounted in openings in the hangers 93, and the shaft has sprockets 95 secured thereon in the same spaced relation as the sprockets 9I and 92 on the shafts 3| and 36, respectively, and a driving sheave 96 is mounted on the shaft 94 at the outer side of the picker unit.

A traveling conveyer structure 91 is disposed beneath the husking rolls of each picker unit, this conveyer comprising parallel side chains 98 which run over sprockets 9I, 92, on rods 3I and 39, respectively, and sprockets 95 on shaft 94, and cross bars on blades I9I, secured at their ends to the links of the side chains 98. The sheave 96 is driven by a V-belt I92 which in turn is driven by a sheave I93 mounted on the outer end of the shaft 86. The conveyer 91 is driven in such direction that the upper course of the conveyer moves forwardly and the front course hence moves downwardly, and in so doing, it engages the standing stalks and bends the same forwardly and downwardly as the machine moves forward, so that all parts of each stalk pass through the rolls at the forward portion thereof, and hence there is little in the matter of leaves and trash to clutter the husking rolls.

The outer end of the shaft section 29 on the picker frame is rotatably mounted in a bearing sleeve I94 provided with a projecting arm or web I95 detachably mounted on the rear axle housing 1, to thereby secure the bearing sleeve I94 in position as an outboard supporting bearing for the shaft 29 when the picker unit is mounted on the tractor frame.

It will be apparent from the above description that each picker unit is a complete assembly in itself, including a supporting frame carrying a pair of combined picking and husking rolls, gathering chains and a stalk bending conveyer, along with the necessary mechanical drives for applying the required power to the rolls, gathering chains and conveyer. The picker units are detachably mounted on the tractor frame by connecting the inner end of each shaft section 29 to an outwardly projecting end of the cross shaft I9 mounted on the tractor frame, this connection being made through a shaft coupling I95, separable from one or both of the shafts I9 and 29, and the attachment of supporting web I95 of the bearing I94 in position onthe tractor rear axle housing.

The forward end of the picker units may be connected by a cross bar I91, which is detachably connectable to the inner frame bar 21 of the picker units, beneath the tractor frame. An arm of a bell crank lever I98, pivoted on the tractor frame, is detachably connectable to the cross bar I91 through one or more tension-springs I99, the lower end of which may be adjustably connected to the cross bar I91 to vary the normal tension of the springs. The other arm of the bell crank lever I98 is connected, through a rod II 9, to an adjusting hand lever II2 pivotally mounted on the tractor frame. With the hand lever H2 in any adjusted position, and held therein by a conventional form of latch on the hand lever engaging in a notch on a fixed quadrant I I3, the picker units are resiliently supported, through the spring connection I99, at a desired level above the ground; or the picker units may be raised higher to permit travel of the tractor, with the picker units mounted thereon, for ordinary transport purposes.

The conveyers 24 each comprises a housing I2I containing a traveling chain conveyer I23 having spaced flights. The housing I2I is mounted through a hanger I24 adjacent the forward end of the housing, this hanger I24 being attached to the inner wall of the housing and detachably mounted on the adjacent side bar 3 of the tractor frame; and the conveyer housing extends beneath the rear axle housing of the tractor to a point rearwardly thereof. The rear end of each conveyer housing may be supported on a bracket I26, and the bottom or the outer side. wall of the housing may he detachably secured to such bracket; and the bracket may be detachably secured, through a flange thereon, to the vertical flange of the adjacent supporting angle bar I21 which is secured, preferably in a detachable manner, to the outer face of the vertical flange of one of the spaced angle bars I28 rigidly supported at the forward end on the tractor frame or the rear axle housing, the spaced angle bars I28 constituting a conventional form of support for an operator's platform I29 on the tractor. The rear portion of the housing I2I is restrained against appreciable lateral movement through engagement with an outer lip or flange on the bracket I29 and with the inner lateral flange on the forwardly projecting portion of the angle bar I21. The rear portion of the conveyer housing may be further supported by one or more hangers detachably connected to the rear portion of the side bars 3 of the tractor frame or to the rear axle housing.

Mounted in bearings I3I secured to the side walls of the conveyer housings I2I, adjacent the rear end thereof, are shafts I32, I32, the inner ends of each such shaft projecting substantially beyond the ixmer wall of the conveyer housing in which it is mounted; and each shaft is provided, at an intermediate portion within the conveyer housing, with a driving sprocket I33 for the chain conveyer I23. -The shaft I32 has, on the inwardly extending portion thereof, a driving sprocket I34. The inwardly projecting ends of the alined shafts I32, I32 are detachably connected through a torque tube I35.

Adjacent the forward end of each conveyer 24 is a shaft I31 mounted in bearings, similar to bearings I3I at the rear of the conveyer housing, and a sprocket I38 is mounted on such shaft intermediate the side walls of the conveyer housing. The flighted nveyer chain I23 is of a conventional type, the upper course of the conveyer moving rearwardly during normal operation of the conveyer; and this upper course of the chain conveyer runs over a partition or wall I49 extending between the side walls of the conveyer housing, such partition extending substantially the full distance between the conveyer sprockets I33, I38. The sprocket I34 is driven, through a chain or like connection, from a sprocket I on shaft I42 mounted in bearings I43, preferably detachably mounted on the angle supports I21. This shaft I42 is provided with a drive sprocket I45, preferably connected to the the roll 39, this deflecting plate having an inclined upper portion whose upper edge is adjacent the roll 39 and an inclined lower portion which extends to a point where it will lie adjacent or overlap the upper edge of the outer wall of the housing I2I of the conveyer 24, this deflecting plate I5I serving to guide husked corn from the inner husking roll to the conveyer.

A collecting pan I56 for any shelled comthat may drop through husking portions of the rolls '36, 39 and thence through the upper course of the bending conveyer 91, is provided. This collecting pan is disposed beneath the upper course of the bending conveyer 91, and may be held in operative position by providing a flange I51 on the forward side of the pan, this flange being connected to a flange or angle support I58 secured to the inner hanger bar 32 of the support for the bending conveyer. The bottom of the pan I56 is inclined inwardly and terminates in a discharge lip, as indicated at I59, which cooperates with an aperture I66 in the outer wall of the housing I2I of the husked corn conveyer,

so that any shelled corn dropping on the collecting pan I56 will pass I59 and onto the conveyer 24.

The collecting pan I56, instead of being mounted on the spring steel arch hangers 32 of the corn picker frame, may be permanently or detachably mounted on the outer wall of the conveyer housing I2, as through flanges on the inner edge of the collecting pan secured to the outover the discharge lip er side wall of the conveyer housing about the opening I66 therein.

The housings of the husked corn conveyers 24 are provided at their rear ends with inwardly turned end open discharge portions I65, either formed integral with or rigidly united to the housings, or formed separate from such housings and detachably connected thereto. These discharge end portions fit over and preferably into the rear end or well portion of the housing I61 of an elevating conveyer 25 whose upper rear end is provided with a depending discharge chute I66, as shown in Fig. 12, in position to discharge the conveyed material into the box of a wagon drawn by the tractor. The conveying element I" is of the chain type, with bar shaped flights attached at spaced points to a centrally located chain; and the chain is driven by a sprocket I12 within the forward well portion of the conveyer housing and mounted on a shaft I13 rotatably supported in bearings fixed to the side walls of the housing, with the shaft ends extending con- 1 siderably beyond the bearings. On the right hand extending end of. this shaft, a driving sprocket I14 is mounted, this sprocket preferably being connected to the shaft, as indicated in Fig. 2,

through a conventional form of overload release clutch. The upper course of the flighted conveyer chain preferably operates over a plate I15 secured to the side walls of the conveyer housing I61.

The elevating conveyer housing I61 is mounted in operative position with its lower rear well portion disposed between the spaced angle bar supports I21, with the end extensions of the shaft I13 disposed within bearings I16, open at the rear side, and each detachably secured to the lateral flange of the supporting angle bars I21. These bearings I 16, preferably in conjunction with a cross bar I16 detachably connected to the rear end of the angle bar supports I21, serve to carry the weight of this conveyer housing; and the latter is maintained in-desired position of elevation by bars or tie rods I19 pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the rear axle housing of the tractor. These rods I19 are inclined toward each other and are connected through a pin to a chain I8I of adjustable length and attached at a suitable point to the walls of the conveyer housing I61, about midway of its length. Through adjustment of the length of chain I6I, the inclination of the conveyer 24 may be suitably varied. The driving sprocket I14 on the shaft I13 is driven through a chain from I63 on the shaft I42.

A housing or guard I65 is preferably provided for the torque shaft I35 at the rear of the operators platform, this guard being suitably detachably mounted in position and having a rear edge portion I66 projecting downwardly and coopera driving sprocket rating with the discharge end portions of the con veyer housings I2I to insure discharge of material from such conveyers into the well of the elevating conveyer 25.

vider and gathering shields, including, as indicated in Fig. 13, a central divider element I89 provided with a divider point and shielding the front caster wheels and the front portion of the tractor and detachably mounted on the tractor frame or body, and rearward extensions I9I, preferably separable from the divider point, and detachably mounted on the tractor frame or body so as to substantially cover the inner sides of the picker units and operating parts thereof and shielding the engine parts of the tractor. Separate side gathering shields I92, provided with forward gathering points, are detachably mounted on the outer frame bars 21 of the picker units and serve to shield the outer half of the picker units and the operating parts thereof. The rear ends of the side shields I92 and the extensions I9I of the inner shield are detachably joined and braced through a removable transverse guard I93, whose normal position is substantially over the rear end part of the rolls 36, 39.

With the corn picker units and the conveyer attachments therefor mounted on the tractor as hereinabove described and the picker units adjusted, through the controlling hand lever II2, to proper position above the ground and the gathering chains of the picker units operating at a speed which is preferably substantially synchronouswith respect to the forward travel of the tractor, then as the tractor-mounted picker travels through a corn field, the cooperating rolls of each picker unit are in general alinement with the standing rows of corn stalks. Through the cooperative action of the central divider I69 and the gathering points of the side shields I92, leaning and broken stalks are straightened, and the 36, 39, respectively. As the machine progresses,

husking portion of the the stalks pass between the rolls, and the ears of corn are snapped from the stalks through actlon of the oppositely rotating and oppositely threaded snapping portions H, 45 of the rolls. The snapped ears travel upwardly along the oppositely rotating rolls, assisted by the conveying action of the screw projections on the intermediate or husking portions of the roll 38; and through the cooperative action of this portion 42 of the roll 38 and the smooth rubber covered husking portion 46 of the roll 33, the latter rotating at somewhat higher speed than the roll 38, the husks are drawn from the cars by being gripped or pinched between the rolls and drawn downwardly therethrough. The husked ears then fall inwardly over the inner roll 39 and, guided by the plate II, drop into the conveyer 24 and are carried rearwardly and discharged thereby into the forward well of the elevating conveyer 25 and are elevated thereby and'discharged to a wagon or other receptacle.

As the machine progresses, the stalks, from which the ears are snapped by the snapping points 4|, 45 of the picker rolls, contact with the downwardly traveling forward portion of the bending conveyer 91. Through this engagement of the stalks with the bending conveyer, the relatively rearward travel of the stalks is impeded; and as the machine and the bending conveyer advances, ,the stalks are bent forwardly and the full length thereof thus passes between the cooperative rolls without reaching a point thereon where they would materially impede the desired huskin action of the rolls or clutter the same with leaves or stalk fragments; and there is little likelihood of the latter being carried over to the conveyers 24 with the husked ears, and clogging of the drives of the picker units. Any leaves, husks or stalk fragments which do not pass downwardly through the husking portion of the rolls are readily evacuated downwardly between the rolls by the action of the rear clearing portions 43 of the rolls.

Through the action of the bending conveyer 91 in engaging the cornstalks and forcibly acting on the same to draw them forwardly and downwardly through the forward portion of the rolls 38, 39, thus relieving the body and rear portions of the rolls of stalk leaves and fragments, 'efficient snapping and husking action may be secured through combined snapping and husking rolls of minimum length and weight and with minimum trash passing along to the conveyers with the husked ears, and also with minimum liability of clogging of the picker parts and drives with trash. As the lower portion of the bending conveyer 91 rolls over the stalks after the latter have passed through the picker rolls and are in partly flattened condition, the bending conveyer may exercise an appreciable wearing away or shredding action on the stalks, the results of which are beneficial in facilitating later plowing under of the stalks.

Shelled corn removed from the ears during the husking operation passes through the husking portions of the rolls and through the spaces between the linked flights of the upper course of the bending conveyer 91 and onto the collecting pan I56 from which it discharges to the conveyer 24; and the flights thereof, moving along the plate I" of the conveyer, insure carrying the shelled corn, along with the husked ears, to the elevating conveyer 25.

A clutch operable from the operators position may be provided in the power takeoff which will permit operation of the tractor without operating the corn picker units and their conveyer attachments.

The corn picker units and conveying attachments therefor may be readily removed from the tractor, as well as assembled thereon. To dismount the rear elevating conveyer 25, it is necessary only to remove the drive chain from the sprocket I14 on the shaft, I13, and release the connection of the chain IBI from such conveyer or the rearwardly extending supporting bars I19; and after removing the detachable crossbar I18, the rear end of the conveyer may be dropped, and the conveyer drawn rearwardly to remove the conveyer shaft I13 from its supporting bearings I16 carried by the supporting angle bars I21. The supporting bars or rods I19 may then be removed from their attachment to the rear axle housing of the tractor.

The guard I over the torque tube connection I35 may be removed from its attachment at the rear end portions of the housings of the conveyers 24 adjacent the operators platform I29. And the central divider I89, with its extensions I9I, and the side gathering shields I92 removed from the tractor and picker units, the conveyers 24 and picker units may be readily removed from the tractor.

To detach the picker units from the tractor, it is necessary only to drop the front portion of the picker units to the ground or suitable temporary support, and detach the spring I09 from the bell crank lever I08, disconnect the cross bar I01 from the inner frame bars 21 of one of the picker units, detach the outboard bearings I64 from the rear axle housing, and disconnect the shaft 29 of each picker unit from the shaft I9 at the couplings I06. The rear end of each picker unit may then be moved or lowered to the ground or a suitable support; and withthe picker units thus supported independently of the tractor, the tractor may then be driven backward past the lowered picker units.

In order to dismount, each of the husked corn conveyers 24 from the tractor, after the picker units are dismounted, it is necessary only to remove the detachable torque tube I35 which connects the rear sprocket shafts I32, I32 of these conveyers, remove the driving chain from the sprocket I34 on shaft I32, disconnect the hanger plate I24 from the side bar 3 of the tractor frame and disconnect the supporting brackets I26 from the supporting channel I28, or detach the housing from such bracket. The conveyers can then be lowered to the ground and drawn out forwardly or rearwardly beneath the rear axle housing, or the tractor may be moved past the lowered conveyers.

With the parts thus removed from the tractor, the latter may be operated for its usual purposes, with the angle supports I21 and the shaft I42 carried thereby and the shaft I9, and the drives for these shafts in position, or these latter parts may be detached from the tractor.

The reassembly of the corn picker units and the conveyers and their drives on the tractor can be readily accomplished in a manner which will be apparent from the description hereinabove.

It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of design and construction described herein, for obvious modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to persons skilled in-the art.

rolls, said conveyor extending rearwardly between said wheels and beneath said axle structure.

2. In combination, a frame carrying a supporting'axle structure on which a pair of laterally spaced wheels are mounted, a corn harvester mounted on said frame and comprising forwardly extending cooperative picking and husking rolls disposed wholly forwardly of the axis of said wheels, and a conveyer for receiving and conveying rearwardly husked ears' of corn after passage thereof from said husking rolls,

said conveyer being disposed laterlly inside said rolls and extending rearwardly between said wheels and beneath said axle structure.

3. In combination, a frame carrying a supporting axle structure on which a pair of laterally spaced wheels-are mounted, a corn harvester mounted on said frame and comprising two laterally spaced pairs. of cooperative, forwardly extending rolls disposed forwardly of the axis. of said wheels and having picker portions adjacent their'forward end and husking sections rearwardly of said picker portions, and a pair of rearwardly extending conveyers for receiving and conveying rearwardly ears of corn after passage thereof from said pairs of husking ported frame advances. a 9. In combination, -awheelesupported frame, and a corn harvester attachment mounted on connected to said brackets beneath said arms for holding said arms in desired spaced and resiliently yielding braced relation. v

7. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester attachment comprising a second frame mounted on said first frame, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative corn harvesting rolls mounted on said second frame, and stalk bending means carried by said second frame and disposed beneath said rolls and operative to engage standing stalks between said rolls and bend said stalks forwardly as said wheel-supported frame advances.

8. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester attachment mounted on said frame and comprising a second frame pivotally mounted on said first frame at one side thereof for movement in a vertical plane, a pair of forwardly extending cooperating corn picking rolls mounted on' said second frame, and stalk bending means carried by and disposedbeneath said pivoted frame and said rolls, saidf bending means comprising a movable element operative to engage standing stalks between saidrolls and bend said stalks forwardly as said wheel-sup said frame atone side thereof comprising a second frame pivoted adjacent its rear endon said first frame for movement in a verticalplan'e,"-

a pair of forwardly-extendingcooperative com roll sections, each of said conveyers receiving and conveying husked corn passed from one of said pairs of husking roll sections and extending rearwardly between said wheels and beneath said axle structure.

4. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester attachment comprising a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said frame for movement in a vertical plane, cooperative harvesting, rolls mounted on said arms, and a resiliently yielding bracingarch between said arms and disposed beneath said arms.

5. In combination, a wheel-supported frame,

- and acorn harvester attachment comprising a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms pivotallymounted on said frame for movement in a vertical plane, cooperative corn harvesting rolls mounted on and extending longitudinally of said arms, and a yielding bracing arch between said arms forwardly of the pivotal point thereof and comprising a resilient bracket secured to and extending downwardly from each of said arms, and a tie rod connected to said brackets beneath said armsfor holding said arms in desired spaced and yieldingly braced relation.

6. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester attachment comprising a par of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said frame for movement in a'vertical plane, cooperative combined picking and husking rolls mounted on and extending longitudinally of said arms, and a yielding bracing arch between said arms forwardly of the pivotal point thereof and comprising a resilient bracket secured to and extending downwardly from each of said arms, and a tie rod adjustably picking and husking rolls mountedonqsaid second frame, and stalk bending means'carried by said pivoted frame and-disposed beneath said rolls, said bending. means comprisingf'anendless travelingflexible element whoseforward portion I travelsdownwardly and is operative to engage standing stalks between'said rolls and bend said stalks forwardly as said wheel-supported frame advances. f 10. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester attachment comprising a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms" frame for movement.

pivotally mounted on said in a verticalplane, cooperative'corn picker rolls mounted on and extending longitudinally of said arms, a yielding bracing arch between and depending from said arms forwardly of the pivotal mounting of said arms on said frame-for maintaining said arms and the rolls carried thereby in desired operative relation, and stalk bending means supported by said arch beneath said pivoted arms and said rolls carriedthereby, said bending means being engageable with. standing corn stalks between said rolls to-bend said stalks forwardly as said wheel-supported frame ad-' vances.

and a corn harvester attachment comprising a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said frame-for movement in a vertical plane, cooperative combined picking and husking rolls mounted on and extending longitudinally of said arms, a yielding bracing arch between and depending from said arms forwardly of the pivotal mounting of said arms on said frame for maintaining said arms and the rolls carried thereby. in desired operative relation, and stalk bending means beneath said pivoted arms and said rolis carried thereby and supported by said arch, said bending means com.-

prising a movable element traveling downwardly at its forward side, and said forward side being engageable with standing corn stalks between said rolls to bend said stalks forwardly as said wheel-supported frame advances.

12. In'combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester attachment mounted on said frame and comprising a second frame pivotally mounted on said first frame and including a pair of forwardly extending spaced arms, a pair of forwardly extending cooperative picker rolls mounted on said arms, a bracing arch disposed beneath said pivoted frame for holding the forward portions of said arms and the rolls carried thereby in desired spaced relation, said arch comprising a resilient bracket secured to and depending from each of said pivotally mounted frame bars, a tie rod adjustably connecting and bracing said frame bars and serving to hold the latter in desired adjustable spaced relation, stalk bending means carried by said arch beneath said rolls,- said bending means comprising a traveling flexible element whose forward portion travels downwardly and engages standing stalks between said rolls as said wheel-supported frame advances, a rotatable support for said flexible traveling element and carried by said tie rod, a second and rearwardly disposed pair of depending arms secured to said frame bars, and a rotatable driv-- ing sprocket supported in position by said second pair of depending arms and serving to drive said flexible traveling element.

13. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester comprising a frame pivotally mounted on said first frame and including a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms, harvesting rolls comprising cooperative husking roll sections mounted on said arms, a yielding bracing arch between said arms and disposed beneath the same forwardly of the pivotal point of said second frame, a conveyer for receiving and conveying rearwardly husked ears of corn after passage thereof from said husking roll sections, and a receiving device disposed below said husking roll sections and supported by said bracing arch in position to receive shelled corn passing through said husking roll sections and discharging said shelled corn to said conveyer.

14. In combination, a wheel-supported frame, and a corn harvester mounted on said frame and comprising a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement of the forward end of said arms, a pair of cooperative husking rolls mounted on said arms, a yielding bracing arch between and depending from said arms forwardly of the pivotal point thereof, a conveyer disposed alongside said rolls for receiving and conveying rearwardly husked ears of corn after passage thereof from said rolls, and a receiving device disposed below said rolls in position to receive shelled corn passing through said rolls, said receiving device being supported on said bracing arch and having a laterally directed discharge for discharging shelled corn on to said conveyer.

15. In combination, a frame carrying an axle support for a pair of laterally spaced wheels on which said frame is mounted, and a corn harvester mounted on said frame and comprising a pair of laterally spaced forwardly extending arms pivotally mounted on said frame for up and down movement of the forward end of said arms, cooperative harvesting rolls mounted on said arms and including forward picking portions and rearward husking portions, a. bracing arch between said arms and disposed beneath said arms and said rolls carried thereby, a conveyer for receiving and conveying rearwardly ears of corn after passage thereof from the husking portions of said rolls, stalk bending means carried by said bracing arch and comprising an open-work endless traveling element having a forwardly traveling upper portion and a downwardly traveling forward portion, the latter portion being operative to engage standing stalks between said rolls and bend said stalks forwardly and downwardly, and a device disposed below said rolls and the upper portion of said traveling bending element and in position to receive shelled corn passing through the husking portion of said rolls and said upper portion of said traveling element and having a discharge portion for discharging the shelled corn to said conveyer.

16. In combination, a tractor comprising a frame carrying a power unit and having an axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and a corn harvester detachably mounted on said tractor and comprising cooperative picking and husking rolls disposed forwardly of the axis of said traction wheels, and a conveyer in position to receive husked ears of corn after passage thereof from said rolls and extending rearwardly beyond said rolls and between said wheels and beneath said axle support,

17. In combination, a tractor comprising a frame carrying a power unit and having a front wheeled support and a rear axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and a corn harvester detachably mounted on said tractor and comprising cooperative harvesting rolls, and a conveyer in position to receive ears of corn after passage thereof from said rolls, said conveyer extending rearwardly beyond said rolls be tween said traction wheels and beneath said rear axle support.

18. In combination, a tractor comprising a frame carrying a power unit and having a front wheeled support and a rear axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and a corn harvester detachably mounted on said tractor and comprising forwardly extending harvesting rolls disposed forwardly of the axis of said wheels and comprising cooperative picking sections, and husking sections alined with said picking sections, and a conveyer extending rearwardly beyond said husking roll sections and between said traction wheels and beneath said rear axle support, said conveyer being in position to receive husked ears of corn after passage thereof from said husking roll sections, a power takeoff connection from said power unit operating at a speed proportional to the speed of travel of the tractor, and actuating mechanism driven by said power takeoff for operating said harvesting rolls and said conveyer.

19. In combination, a tractor comprising a frame carrying a power unit and having a front wheeled support and a rear axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, and a corn harvester detachably mounted on said tractor and comprising cooperative picking and husking roll sections disposed at each side of the tractor frame in advance of said rear axle support, a conveyer associated with the husking roll sections at each side of the tractor and positioned to receive ears of corn after passage thereof from the adjacent husking roll sections, said conveyers extending rearwardly beneath said rear axle support, and actuating mechanism driven by said power unit for operating said picking and husking roll sections and said conveyers. v

20. In combination, a tractor having a relatively narrowand centrally located gine and having an axle support for a pai'r'of latbody, and a, rear axle support for a pair of later-.. ally spaced traction wheels, and a corn harvester f attachment detach'abiy mounted on said 'tr a'ctor and comprising asupport pivotallyimou nted' on said tractor and carrying a pair of forwardly extending cooperative .harvesting rolls including axially alined picking and husking sections disposed alongside the body of said tractor in advance of the axis and within the tread of said traction wheels, and a conveyerhaving its forerally spaced -traction wheels, means for transmitting' powerfrom said engine to said traction wheels, a corn harvester attachment detachably mounted on said tractor, said corn harvester attachment including a forwardly extending frame detachably and pivotally mounted on said tractor,

ward portion below and laterally inside the huskpicking and husking rolls pivotally mounted on said tractor at each side of the body thereof and laterally outside of said front wheeled support and forwardly of the'axis and inside the tread of said rear traction wheels, and a conveyer at each side of the tractor and extending rearwardly beneath the rear axle support and between said rear traction wheels of said tractor, each of said conveyers being operative to receive husked ears of corn after passage thereof from the adjacent pair of said husking roll sections and convey said ears rearwardly. v

22. In combination, a tractor having a relatively narrow and substantially centrally located body, a front wheel support, and a pair of laterally spaced traction wh'eels carried by an axle support at the rear end of said body, and a corn harvester attachment comprising a frame at each side of the-body of said tractor and pivotally mounted thereon and disposed laterally outside of the track of said front wheeled support and laterally inside the track of the adjacent rear wheel of the tractor, a pair of cooperative combined picking and husking rolls carried by each of said pivoted frames, and a conveyer extending rearwardly from each pair of said rolls and beneath the rear axle support of said tractor, each of said conveyers being disposed laterally inside and beneath the adjacent portion of the corresponding pair of rolls and operative to receive ears of corn after passage thereof from the adjacent pair of said rolls and convey said ears rearwardly.

23. In combination with a tractor having a rear axle support with a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels mounted thereon, a body extending forwardly from said axle supp rt intermediate said traction wheels, a front wheeled sup port for said body, and corn harvesting mechanism supported by said tractor and comprising a frame pivoted on said tractor at one side of the body portion thereof laterally Withinthe tread of said rear traction wheels, a pair of lat-' erally spaced and substantially parallel, forwardly extending shafts rotatably mounted on said pivoted frame, longitudinally alined picker and husker roll elements mounted on each of said shafts, and a conveyer having its forward portion below said husking roll elements and in position to receive husked ears discharged from said husking rolls, said conveyer extending rearwardly beneath said rear axle support and between said rear traction wheels.

24. In combination, a tractor carrying an ena pair of combined picking and husking rolls rotatably mounted on said frame, gathering mechanism carried by said pivoted frame, a conveyer extending rearwardly from said rolls beneath said axle support and between said traction wheels and adapted to receive ears of corn after passage thereof from the husking portion of said rolls, and driving connections from said power transmitting means to said rolls, gathering mechanism and conveyer for insuring operation of said parts at a speed constantly proportionate to the speed at which said traction wheels are driven by said power transmitting means.

25. In combination, a tractor carrying an engine and having an axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, a wheeled support for the front end of 'said tractor, means for transmitting power from said engine to said traction wheels, a transverse shaft mounted in bearings carried by said tractor frame, a power takeoff from said power transmission means for supplying power to said shaft, a detachable corn harvester attachment mounted on said tractor and including a frame pivotally mounted on a detachable end extension of said transverse shaft, and a pair of cooperative harvester rolls rotatably mounted on said frame, and a driving connection from said transverse shaft to said barvester rolls for operating the latter.

26. In combination, a tractor comprising a longitudinally extending body carrying an engine and supported at its rear end by a pair of laterally spaced traction wh'eels mounted on a rear axle support carried by said body, and a wheeled support for the front end of said body, means for transmitting power from said engine to said traction wheels, a transverse shaft mounted in bearings carried by the body of said tractor forwardly of the axis of said traction wheels, at power takeoff from said power transmission means for supplying power to said shaft, a detachable corn harvester attachment including a frame, a transverse shaft rotatably mounted in bearings carried by a rear portion of said frame, means for .detachably connecting said latter shaft to an end said axle support intermediate said traction wheels, and a front wheeled support for said body,

corn harvesting mechanism detachably mounted on said tractor and comprising a frame pivoted on said tractor at each side of the body thereof and laterally within the tread of said rear traction wh'eels, a pair of laterally spaced and substantially parallel, forwardly extending shafts r0- tatably mounted on each of said pivoted frames, cooperative combined picker and husker roll elements mounted on said shafts, gathering mechanism adjacent the forward end of said rolls, a

detachable conveyer having its forward portion below the husking roll portion of each pair of rolls and in position to receive husked ears from said husking rolls, said conveyers extending rearwardly beneath said rear axle support and between said rear traction wheels, said roll-carrying frames being detachable from said tractor independently of the corresponding husked ear conveyers, an elevating conveyer detachably mounted on the rear end of said tractor in position to receive husked corn discharged from both of said first conveyers and convey the same to an external point, a power takeoff connection from said engine, and driving connections from said power takeoff to said rolls, said gathering mechanism, said husked corn c-onveyers and said elevating conveyer,

28. In combination, a tractor comprising a frame carrying a power unit and having a rear axle support for a pair of laterally spaced traction wheels, a corn harvester attachment comprising a frame detachably mounted at each side of said tractor frame, a pair of cooperative forwardly extending combined picking and husking rolls mounted on each of said detachably mounted frames, a detachably mounted conveyer at each side of said tractor and having its forward and in position to receive husked corn after passage thereof from the adjacent pair of said rolls, each said conveyer extending and being operative to convey husked corn rearwardly between said traction wheels and beneath said rear axle support, and each said conveyer carrying at its rear end a driving shaft rotatably mounted on said conveyer, a torque connection between said conveyers and detachably connected to said driving shaft of each of said conveyers, and driving connections from said power unit to said harvester rolls and said driving shafts of said conveyers.

29. In a corn harvester, a supporting frame comprising a pair of spaced forwardly extending frame bars, a pair of forwardly extending harvester rolls carried by said frame bars, each of said rolls including a forward picking section and a rearwardly disposed husking section, and a bearing support for said rolls comprising a bearing housing carried by said frame bars rearwardly of said husking roll sections, said bearing housing being in separable parts formed with interior recesses, bearings seated in said recesses and carrying journal portions of said rolls, one of said bearing housing parts being provided with an interior recess at one end thereof, a spring disposed within said recess and bearing upon the adjacent roll bearing and yieldingly urging the latter toward the other roll bearing.

ED JOCHUMSEN. 

